Los Angeles Rams fans are going to have to wait a little while longer for the return of Aaron Donald following latest NFL news
The Los Angeles Rams are preparing for their 2026 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, but according to Adam Schefter and ESPN, that will have to come without one of their star players.
Aaron Donald’s highly anticipated return to the NFL will have to wait at least one more week. The Los Angeles Rams are holding the future Hall of Fame defensive tackle out of Thursday night’s season opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Donald, who has not played in an NFL game in two years, will not make the trip for the first-ever regular-season game played on Australian soil.
The Rams and 49ers kick off the 2026 NFL season in one of the most anticipated openers in recent years, and Donald’s absence removes a significant storyline from the festivities. Arguably the best defensive player to ever suit up in the NFL, Donald looked to make his comeback after stepping away from football following the 2023 season. But Los Angeles is taking a cautious approach with its franchise icon, and the reasoning makes a lot of sense.
Why the Rams are playing this smart
This is a long season, and bringing back Aaron Donald is a long-term play. Everyone wants to see if he still has the juice. My guess is he absolutely does. The workout videos the Rams posted during his tryout process showed a player who is rearing to go. Even outside of football, this guy was probably working out three times a day. He’s in phenomenal shape.
But being in good shape and being in football shape are two entirely different things.
Donald missed all of training camp and the entire preseason. He only started practicing with the team a little over a week ago. The Rams would be putting one of the greatest players in franchise history on a 16-to-18-hour flight to Australia on limited rest, limited buildup, and limited football reps. The risk of injury in that scenario is real, and the last thing Los Angeles needs is Donald’s return ending before it ever truly begins.
The bottom line is patience wins here
The Rams are being smart about this. Rushing Donald onto the field in Week 1, on the other side of the world no less, serves nobody’s long-term interests. The 49ers matchup would have been a marquee stage for his comeback, but there will be plenty of opportunities for Donald to make his presence felt once he’s truly ready.
For fans eager to see Donald back on the field, the wait continues. It’s disappointing for the viewers’ sake, no question. But the Rams are protecting their investment and giving Donald the best possible runway to make a meaningful impact when he does step back on the field.
